TIKTOK report on the presidential elections in Romania

A report elaborated by Tiktok as a signatory of the Code of conduct on misinformation, within the legislative act on digital services (DSA), presents the threats observed in relation to the November 2024 presidential elections, the measures taken during the preceding period of the elections and the interactions with the national authorities and with the national authorities, as well as to the national authorities EU after the elections.

Tiktok points out that the online platform has comprehensive measures to anticipate and respond to the risks associated with the electoral processes, including the risks associated with the electoral misinformation in the context of the elections that took place in Romania on November 24, 2024.

The report on the elections in Romania is included in the report of March 25 for the period July 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024, which detail the actions that the main online platforms (Google, META, MICROSOFT and TIKTOK) under the basis of the code on misinformation.

In the report, Tiktok records some of the threats he observed in relation to the presidential elections in Romania, mentioning the elimination of six CIO networks (covered influence operations) in 2024 that were identified as specifically an audience in Romania.

In addition to these networks, the report states, it is worth highlighting the wider defense of Tiktok against hidden influence campaigns in Europe. In September 2024, global measures were taken against a hidden network related to Sputnik Media, and as part of the anti-recid strategy, 11 accounts were eliminated in November 2024, which were believed to be associated with Sputnik Media and targeting publics in Romania and from the Republic of Moldova.

The platform also notes that it has proactive, from the end of October, eliminated over 5,500 elements related to elections in Romania for violating policies regarding misinformation, harassment and instigator speech.

Also according to Tiktok, 11 notifications were received in relation to the presidential elections in Romania, which were quickly responded, by prohibiting or geo-lock accounts and eliminating content for violating the community rules.

The report reviews the measures taken in terms of content moderation capabilities (99 Romanian-language moderators), combating misinformation, fact-returning, setting up a mission control center on October 23, 2024 for elections in Romania, discouraging operations of undercover influence (over 5,500 elements of Romanian content, Instigating speech in hatred, between the end of October and December 17), the approach of the deceitful content generated by IA, the approach of government accounts, politicians and political parties (GPPPA).

Tiktok also mentions that, before the elections, his team organized dedicated sessions with each political group in Romania to inform about his policies and educate the political actors about safety measures, and that he has asked the authorities a list of the candidates to ensure that the GPPPA is applied correctly.

The platform also states that it has invested in media literacy campaigns as a strategy to combat misinformation, for which it has concluded a partnership with the Local Funky Citizens NGO.

At the same time, his team in Romania organized on October 22 a meeting dedicated to elections with ANCOM, AEP and the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, and on November 14, he organized with this ministry a session on the disturbance of covered influence operations, attended by experts from the ministry, ANCOM, DNSC and Police.

In the report, Tiktok also states that, in general, he has been in touch with the relevant authorities in Romania regarding the situation of the presidential elections and encouraged them to share any information in order to collaborate in order to ensure the integrity of the elections. Tiktok also responded to the requests related to content from the authorities, including the European Commission, answering their specific questions about accounts and providing details about its investigations.